Describing Monty Python as his childhood heroes, Fry told The Telegraph: "It was totally dismissive of the idea of a shaped sketch with a punch line, it was totally dismissive of the idea that characters had to be real in any particular way.

"My parents thought they were peculiar, vulgar, just not funny, very odd, which is what you want your parents to think of anything you like. If your parents like what you like then there's something seriously wrong."

Oh my days. Just seen @montypython@TheO2 - in fact I made a little surprise appearance. Felt like being on stage with the Beatles *sigh* !